If your bird gives off a fishy smell that can put a real damper on an otherwise fruitful and enjoyable relationship. We don’t expect our pets to smell like an expensive perfume but we wouldn’t want a smelly bird either. If you have this issue with your pet then you may be worried. This article will answer the question of “why does my bird smell like fish?”
If your bird smells like fish then you’re right to be concerned. This fish smell develops when your bird has an infected crop. Because this part of the body is so vital, the infected crop can be life-threatening to the bird. Improve the smell and its health by practising good bird hygiene
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Why does my bird smell like fish?
A bird that smells like fish likely has an infection of the crop. A bird’s crop is like the stomach before the stomach. It stores food to be digested slowly and produces a fluid to aid in digestion. An infection of the crop is potentially fatal to the bird as it may cause the bird to lose appetite or stop eating altogether.
In less likely cases, a bird may smell like fish due to the ingredients in the food that they eat or hormonal changes in preparation for mating or other natural processes.
What does a bird smell like?
It is normal for a bird to smell like the food that it eats, so if your bird eats a lot of fish or fish extracts, then expect the fish smell until you change its diet. A bird may also smell like the material its nest is made from.
That being said, birds do have a slight natural scent of their own, but its contribution to a smelly room is negligible except for a few bird species. Consult with a bird specialist to find out if that is the case with your bird.
How can I make my bird smell better?
You can improve your bird’s smell by taking good hygiene measures. Ensure that the bird takes a birdbath regularly, even daily if possible. Also, clean out its cage frequently and place a cage mat that is easy to remove and clean.
Change the bird’s diet after you consult with a bird specialist to improve its body odour while keeping it healthy and well-nourished. If your bird occasionally feeds in the wild, find the location that it feeds in and collect samples of the foods that it has been eating to help to figure out the cause of the bad smell. You can get rid of this food and/or supplement the bird’s diet to remove the nasty smell. An animal food specialist can help you to figure out the best food supplements.
Can birds fart?
When it comes to farting, birds are very well-mannered in the animal kingdom by default because they can’t fart. Birds do not have the same bacteria and organisms needed to create a fart in their digestive system. Also, bird digestion happens very quickly, too quick to begin the slow process of creating a fart. So you can go ahead and blame the dog!
How can I make my house smell good with birds?
Keeping a house smelling fresh with birds in it is a tricky affair. It is necessary to use products that are harmless to the birds. General hygiene helps to keep bird faeces from negatively affecting the air. Fresh air works wonders and is free to use. So open the windows and doors and let the sunshine and wind it in.
You can also use natural air fresheners that will not harm the birds. Try adding some natural spices in a bowl of hot water, or sprinkle essential oils near the birdcage and on items that will not stain.
Overall, good hygiene is the number one way to keep the smells away.
Conclusion
In conclusion, your bird smells like fish because its crop is infected. An infection at such an integral part of the bird is cause for alarm because this can be life-threatening.
Thankfully if you catch it early enough you can improve the smell of the bird and the health of the bird by implementing better bird hygiene. Birds generally smell like the materials their nests are made of. You can also improve your bird’s odour by changing its diet.
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other bird related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Do pet birds poop everywhere?, My bird’s breath smells bad, why and what to do, My bird smells like vomit, why and what to do, Purple bird poop stain, how to get it out of surfaces